OMUNo. 1024-0018
Z.OS51 V
NTS Form 10-900
(Rev. 10-90)
United Slates Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
REGISTRATION FORM
This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete (he
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box
or by entering the information requesled. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable" For
functions architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place
additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 1 0-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all
SENT TO D.C.
1 Name of Properly
Historic name: Uptown Square Historic District
Other names/site number:
2. Location
Streets & numbers
4520-4850 (even) and 4601-4833 (odd) North Broadway,
1020-1212 (even) and 941-1211 (odd) West Lawrence,
4734-4760 (even) North Racine, 4730 North Sheridan,
1050 West Wilson, and 1100-1116 West Lcland Not for publication
City or town Chicago
State Illinois
Zip code 60640
Code
IL
County Cook
Vicinity
Code 031
State/Federal Agency Certification
As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, 1 hereby certify thai this JX, nomination
request for determination of eligibiluy meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register ol Historic Place:
and meets the
National Rcgi
shed for additional comments )
lor determination 01 eligiDimv mccis ire uocuiiieiiidiion stauuaiu^ iui ^ IJlul "fc i llv r LI " k -' "' •"* ' " -■ ' "~o -
e procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60, In my opinion, the property _X. meets does not meet the
;ister Criteria. I recommend that this properly be considered significant _ ._ nationally _ statewide _AJocally. ( - See continuation
6j jeJ»« L 6d**^
f ~ x 9 - o^
Signature of certifying official
jJJLimi^Jii5±Qri^_Pi_^^^
Stale or Federal agency and bureau
In my opinion, the propern meets does not meet the National Register criteria. { See continuation sheet for additional
comments.)
Signature of commenting or other official
Slate or Federal agency and bureau
4. National Park Service Certification
I, hereby certify that this property is: Signature of the Keeper Date of Action
Entered in the National Register
See continuation sheet.
Determined eligible for the National Register
See continuation sheet.
Determined not eligible tor the National Register
Removed from the National Register
Other (explain):
5. Classification
Ownership of Property (("heck as many boxes as apply)
x private
\ public-local
public-State
x public-federal
Category of Property (Cheek only one box)
buikiing(s)
\ district
site
structure
object
Number of Resources within Property
Co lUribtning Noncontribuling
44 H__ buildings
0_ sites
1_ structures
0_ objects
45 8 Total
N uniber of contributing resources previously listed in the National
Register 2
Name of related multiple properly listing (Hnler "N/A" if property is not part
o! a multiple property listing.)
IN /A
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions)
Cat: Recreation and culture
Recreation and culture
Commerce
Commerce
Commerce
Domestic
Domestic
Social
Transportation
Sub:
Theater
Music facility
Department store
Business
Finance
Multiple dwelling
Hotel
Clubhouse
Rail-related
Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions)
Cat: Recreation and Culture
Recreation and Culture
Commerce
Commerce
Domestic
Domestic
Transportation
Sub:
Theater
Music facility
Business
Finance
Multiple dwelling
Hotel
Rail-related
7. Description
Architectural Classification
(baiter categories from instructions)
Materials (Hnter categories from instructions)
Classical Revival
Commercial Style
Spanish Colonial Revival
foundation: limestone
walls: brick
limestone
roof:
other: terra cotta
metal
Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation
sheets.)
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria
(Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property
for National Register listing)
A Property is associated with events that have made a
significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history.
li Property is associated with the lives of persons significant
in our past.
(' Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period, or method of construction or represents the work of a
master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a
significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack
individual distinction.
1) Property has yielded, or is likely to yield information
important in prehistory or history-.
Criteria Considerations (Mark "X" in all the boxes that apply.)
A owned by a religious institution o\- used for religious purposes
it removed from its original location.
( a birthplace or a grave.
D a cemeten .
i- a reconstructed building, object, or structure.
I a commemorative property.
( i less than SO years of age or achieved significance within the
past St) \ cars.
Areas of Significance:
(Enter categories from instructions)
Architecture
Entertainment/Recreation
Transportation
Commerce
Period of Significance:
1900-1950
Significant Dates
Significant Person:
(complete if Criterion fi is market! ;ihn\c)
Cultural Affiliation:
Architect/Builder:
Rapp, Cornelius VV. & George,
architects
Marshall & Fox, architects
Ahlschlagcr, Walter \V., architect
Iluszagh & Hill, architects
Pridmorc, Jerome F. (')., architect
Fugard & Knapp, architects
Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the properly on one or more continuation sheets.)
9. Major Bibliographical References
ic the bonks, articles, and olher sources used in preparing lliis form on one
\tous documentation on file (MPS)
preliminary determination of individual listing (?>(i CI R 67) lias been
previously listed in the National Register
nivviousK determined eligible bv the National Reuisler
ore continuation sheets.)
Primary Location ol 'Additional Data
State Historic Preservation OtTic
Other State agenc
federal aeenc\
recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # Other:
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of Property 38
UTM References (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet)
Zone Hasting Northing Zone Easting Northing
i 16 4452SQ_4£M550 3 16 M5.620 4646740
2 16 ^44584CU1646350 4 16 44523 464 6330
See continuation sheet.
Verbal Boundary Description
(Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.)
Boundary Justification
(Explain why tile boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.)
1 1. Form Prepared By
name/title: Marge Britton, Doug Kaarre, Diane Meyers, Angela Schlater, and Martin
I angora (Volunteer Workgroup); Jennifer Connors (Project Coordinator)
organization: Uptown Community Development Corporation date: June 9, 2000
street & number: 4753 N. Broadway, Suite 822 telephone: 773-878-1064
city or town: Chicago state: IL zip code: 60640
Additional Documentation
i. oiilinu.tlioii Sheets
Maps
A ESt iS map (7.5 or 15 minule series) indicating the property's location.
A sketch map lor historic districts and properties having large acreage
Photographs
Representative black and while photographs of the properly,
vddilional items (Cheek with the SI IPO or IPO Hiram additional items)
Property Ottner
: tins item at the request ol'thc SI IPO or I'I'O.I
multiple owners
telephone
cilvorlown _ state zip code
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This inlhrmalion is being collected tor applications to the National Register of Historic Places lo nominate propel e
neleonine cheoliililv tor hslnue lo list pmpcrtics. and to amend existing listings Response- to tins request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with uic Sa
Historic Preservation ,\cl. as amended ( 1 6 1 1 St'. 470 el seq )
I slunatcd Huidcn Slatcmcnl Public reporting burden tot tins lonu is estimated lo average IS 1 bonis pel response including the lime lor reviewing instructions
eudiciim' and niaiiilainiue data, and conipleling and reviewing the lonu Direct comments regarding Ibis burden estimate or an\ aspect of tins tnrni to the ('htci,
Admuusnalivc Seta ices Division. National Park Seivice. P t) Hoc 77127. Washington, IX" 20017-7 127: and the ( llhcc of Management and Budget. Paperwork
Reductions Pioicel ( I 024-001 S). Waslnneton. IX' 2(1507
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United Stales Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page ..._1
Uptown Square Historic District
DESCRIPTION
The Uptown Square Historic District of Chicago lies just west of Lake Michigan in the
neighborhood of Uptown, approximately six miles north of the downtown Loop. The district's
collection of 52 buildings and one structure includes a range of significant architecture reflecting the
period of significance from 1900 to 1950, including turn-of-the-century storefronts with apartments,
grand Spanish Baroque and Moorish entertainment facilities, Classical Revival terra cotta-clad office
buildings, an Art Deco post office, and Art Deco and Venetian Gothic apartment hotels. The district
is distinguished from its surroundings by its architecture, its scale, and its organization as a cohesive
commercial and entertainment district. While there are numerous buildings with commercial
storefronts on surrounding streets such as Sheridan Road and Wilson Avenue, these buildings arc-
not part of a cohesive commercial district and are of a much smaller scale than the majority of
buildings within the Uptown Square Historic District. The district's 52 buildings arc constructed
primarily of brick, terra cotta and limestone. The elevated rail line runs north and south through the
center of the district between Broadway and Winthrop. Much of the streetscape on Broadway is
densely built, with the larger buildings covering one-half block on Lawrence Avenue. Main' of the
smaller buildings share a party wall and are constructed at the front property line.
The district's boundaries include the northwest corner of Gunnison and Broadway, the east
and west sides of Broadway from Gunnison on the north to Wilson on the south, the southwest
corner of Wilson and Broadway, the one building on the north side of Wilson east of Broad wav, the
north side of Leland between Broadway and Winthrop, the north and south sides of Lawrence from
Magnolia to Sheridan, the first building on the west side of Sheridan south of Lawrence, the two
buildings east of Sheridan on the south side of Lawrence, and the three buildings on the west side
ot Racine south of Lawrence. The boundaries incorporate approximately 15 blocks.
The majority of the taller buildings are located on Lawrence Avenue between Sheridan and
Broadway. Buildings with a larger mass and scale include the Uptown Theatre at 4814-4816 North
Broadway (#44). the McJunkin Building at 4520-4570 North Broadway (#36), the Aragon Ballroom
at 1 100-1 1 10 West Lawrence (#13), the Uptown National Bank at 4753 North Broadway (#19), the
New Lawrence Hotel at 1020 West Lawrence (#9), the Mutual Insurance Building at 1001-1015
West Lawrence (#4), the Wilton Hotel at 1039-1053 West Lawrence (#6), and the Peoples Church
at 941 West lawrencc (#2). The four tracks of the Elevated train line cross over Broadway at Leland
and over Lawrence between Broadway and Winthrop, with a station at the northwest corner of
Wilson and Broadway and a station on Lawrence between Clifton and Winthrop. The Lawrence
station is comprised merely of turnstiles and a staircase to the platform enclosed by a chain link
fence. The elevated structure is of steel frame construction south of Leland Avenue; north of Leland
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section
Uptown Square Historic District
it becomes walled fill.
The district's buildings retain a high degree of architectural integrity and retain the character
that was prevalent during the period of 1900 to 1950. The most substantial building changes have
occurred on the street-level retail storefronts. Often the changes were to windows, doors, cladding
and even alterations to the original storefront configuration. Despite a high degree of integrity, there
arc several vacant lots where buildings from the period of significance once stood. The buildings
that no longer remain include two early gas stations, a row of garages east of Clifton, a sewage
pumping station on Lawrence, two turn of the century low-rise residential buildings with commercial
storefronts on Lawrence, an early 6-flat apartment building on Lawrence, and a mid- 1920s
commercial arcade on Broadway directly south of the Uptown National Bank building.
The commercial prominence of the district was represented by lavish office and retail
buildings, often clad ostentatiously in terra cotta, such as the Uptown National Bank Building (# 1 9),
the Mutual Insurance Building (#4), the Loren Miller & Company Store at 4720-4726 North
Broadway (#40), the Uptown Broadway Building at 4703-4715 North Broadway (#20), and the
McJunkin Building (#36). In response to Uptown Square's emergence as a center of nightlife in the
1920s and its proximity to a large concentration of shopping, business, transportation and
entertainment, large apartment hotels replaced the smaller three-story apartment buildings, such as
the New Lawrence Hotel (#9) and the Wilton Hotel (#6).
The McJunkin Building (#36) is a three-story brick building with an ornate white terra cotta
facade at the southwest comer of Wilson and Broadway. This massive building, constructed in 1923.
is designed in the Classical Revival style and commands a full city block. The building is curved
at the corner, and includes ten extruding bays with rusticated terra cotta blocks, two two-story Ionic
pilasters in three of the bays, a dentillated terra cotta cornice and ornamented terra cotta parapet. The
building includes first floor commercial storefronts and the upper floors contain 108 windows faciim
the streets.
The 1000 block of West Wilson incorporates one building within the district on the north
side of the street. The Wilson Avenue Theater at 1050 West Wilson (#35) was constructed in 1909
as a two-story brick building clad in Bedford limestone. The Classical Revival style facade includes
a central arched entryway surrounded by a fiat stone wall, (tanked by massive rusticated stone piers
topped by a stone pediment with coats-of-arms. A pointed temple-front parapet with classical
ornamentation tops the central section The central arched entryway has been modified with the
installation ot a glass wall, and a one-story addition has been constructed to the east.
I he northwest corner of Wilson and Broadway has been the central nexus for transportation
in Uptown since 1900. The Wilson Avenue Llevated - Uptown Station at 4600-4620 North
Broadway (#37) was constructed in 1922 as a replacement for the previous station and arcade. The
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 3
^ Uptown Square Historic District
one-story' building built partially beneath the elevated tracks is clad in rusticated limestone and
detailed in the Classical Revival style. The original entrance and arched stone parapet on the corner
have been removed. The building has four commercial storefronts along Broadway and two along
Wilson.
The 4600 block of North Broadway contains one to three story buildings with commercial
storefronts and apartments above. The majority of these buildings were constructed between 1900
and 1915 and represent the early phase of commercial development in the district. Characteristics
of the early period include a smaller massing and scale, with buildings that are generally one to three
stories in height. Many of these buildings arc constructed of brick in the Commercial Style and are
not ornately detailed. Several notable exceptions include 4653 North Broadway (#23), a brick, terra
cotta and limestone building constructed in 1901 in the Classical Revival style; 4629 North
Broadway (#29), a brick and terra cotta building constructed in 1930 in the Art Dcco style; and 4623-
4627 North Broadway (#30), a glazed brick and terra cotta building constructed in 1916 in the
Commercial Style with Sullivanesquc detailing. The buildings often incorporate apartments above
commercial storefronts.
The district incorporates one building within the 1 10(1 block of West Leland. The Monroe
Building at 1 100-1 1 1 6 West Leland (#52) is a three-stoiy brick commercial and residential building
constructed in 1905 with a 1922 addition. The building is constructed in the Commercial Style and
includes terra cotta storefront surrounds topped by classical urns, five two-story bays with brick
quoins topped by wood cornices on Leland and three on Winthrop, and an overhanging metal
cornice.
The 4700 block of North Broadway consists of larger buildings than are found on the 4600
block. On the west side are three buildings that were originally separate buildings but were later
consolidated to form a major department store in the district. These three buildings were constructed
between 1912 and 1915. The middle building, the original Loren Miller & Company store (#40)
shares a party wall with the buildings to the north and south. This five-story building is clad in white
terra cotta and is constructed in the Chicago Commercial Style. The building to the south, the
Plymouth 1 lolel at 4700-4714 North Broadway (#39), is a four-story brick Commercial Style hotel.
The hotel has small terra cotta ornament on the upper floors. The building to the north, Sheridan
I rust and Savings Bank at 4728-4740 North Broadway (#41), is a two slorv brick budding clad in
limestone and is designed in the Classical Revival style. The two-story arched window openings
have been enclosed in buck
Across the street on the east side of Broadway are Ihe Uptown Broadway Building (#20) and
the Uptown National Bank Building (#19), The Uptown Broadway Building, listed on the National
Register individually, is one of the more architecturally elaborate buildings in the district. The brick
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 4
Uptown Square Historic District
building has an intricately detailed terra cotta facade in the Spanish Baroque style. The 12-story
Uptown National Bank, completely clad in white terra cotta, is designed in the Classical Revival
style and is a commanding landmark at the southeast corner of Lawrence and Broadway. The
remainder of the 4700 block of North Broadway consists of a bank drive-through south of the
Uptown National Bank, which was once a two-story commercial building. Clifton Avenue, which
only runs one block in the district from Lawrence to Broadway behind the Uptown National Bank
consists of a parking lot where two-story garage buildings once stood.
The Uptown Broadway and Uptown National Bank Buildings were built in the 1920s and
represent the second phase of development in the district. Characteristics of the second phase
include buildings with a larger massing and scale, from three to twelve floors in height. Buildings
from this phase of development are often designed in a particular architectural style, including
Spanish Baroque, Art Dcco and Classical Revival. The facades arc often elaborately ornamented
in terra cotta. These buildings arc generally located on or near Lawrence. The one exception in the
district is the Mc.lunkin Building (#36), which is located at the southwest comer of Wilson and
Broadway.
The 4700 block of North Racine, which converges with Broadway south of Lawrence,
contains three buildings in the district. Beginning at the comer of Lawrence is the Riviera Theater
and Building, 4720-4726 North Racine (#51). This theater and office complex was constructed in
1918 by the famous entertainment architects Rapp & Rapp for the equally famous theater operators
Balaban & Katz. While Rapp & Rapp is given credit for constructing the complex, it is believed that
an earlier unknown architect designed the facades and began construction before that project went
bankrupt. Just to the north on the 4800 block of North Broadway is another Rapp & Rapp theater,
the Uptown Theatre (#44), also built for Balaban & Katz. 'The Riviera Theater is the first theater
under the collaboration of Rapp & Rapp and Balaban & Katz, and is smaller than many of their later
buildings. Designed in the French Renaissance style, the theater is constructed of brick with terra
cotta ornament. The Riviera Office Building, which shares a party wall with the theater to the south,
is also constructed of brick, but was covered with metal panels around the middle of the century.
The 4800 block of North Broadway is a mixture of grand buildings and smaller, automotive-
use buildings. The Green Mill Gardens (#42) on the northwest corner of Broadway and Lawrence
is a well-known landmark. The two-story brick building was constructed in 1914 and originally
included an outdoor dining and dancing area to the west of the building. An addition to the building
was constructed in 1922. and the gardens were replaced by the Uptown Theatre in 1925. The
commercial building at 4812 North Broadway (/»'43), between the Green Mill Gardens and the
Uptown Theatre, was constructed in 1925. Construction of the theater entailed the demolition of a
portion of the Green Mill Gardens, and the 4812 commercial building was constructed in the area
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page _J5
Uptown Square Historic District
that remained. Rapp & Rapp designed the facade. The Uptown Theatre, 4814-4816 North
Broadway (#44), listed on the National Register individually, is Spanish Baroque in style and
massive in scale with 4,381 seats. The brick structure wraps around the Green Mill Gardens on the
north and west. The brick structure has an elaborate terra cotta facade on Broadway. North of the
Uptown Theatre is a four-story commercial building at 4824-4826 North Broadway (#45) which was
constructed in 1904, but was given a Classical Revival facade in 1925 by Rapp & Rapp. North along
the street are a one-story commercial building clad in concrete block (#46) and the three-story brick
Spiegel Furniture Store, 4840 North Broadway (#47), with a white terra cotta facade. The northern-
most building in the district is the Uptown Branch of the U.S. Post Office, 4850 North Broadway
(#48), a 1939 Art Deco building.
The cast side of the block was very auto-oriented, with the Chicago Motor Club at 4833
North Broadway (#14), the Riviera Garage Building at 4829 North Broadway (#15). and the
Goodyear Automotive Building at 481 1-4815 North Broadway (#17). The Chicago Motor Club is
a two-story Art Deco style building with a colored stone panel facade. The storefront has been
covered with vertical siding. The Riviera Garage Building is a one-story brick building with ashlar
stone panels above a modified storefront. The North Shore Fireproof Storage Building No. 2, 4821
North Broadway (#16), is a five-story brick building with terra cotta surrounding the first floor
commercial storefront. The building is designed in a restrained Classical Revival style, including
brick pilasters with limestone capitals on the second through fourth floors and small windows
characteristic of storage buildings. The Goodyear Automotive Building, constructed in 1969.
replaced a Sinclair gasoline station from 1933. It is a one-story brick building with vertical metal
panels on the facade. The Clancy Building, 4801 North Broadway (#18), sits at the northeast corner
ot Lawrence. This three-story brick building has apartments above commercial storefronts.
Constructed in 1904, the building has a rounded bay, an oriel on the corner, and limestone banding
I he Queen Anne style building is missing its cornice.
The three blocks of Lawrence between the elevated structure and Sheridan Road contain the
majority of large-scale high-rise buildings in the district. The 1 100 block of West Lawrence includes
the Aragon Ballroom, 1 100-1 1 10 West Lawrence (#13), on the north side of the street and the 1 105
Lawrence Professional Building, 1101-1113 West Lawrence (#8). on the south side. Both arc
adjacent to the elevated tracks. The Aragon, a three-story brick, terra cotta and stucco building, has
an elaborate Spanish Revival facade that is another important landmark within (he district.
Constructed in 1926, it lias storefronts on Lawrence flanking the theater entrance The elaborate
Moorish ornamentation with classical detailing includes raised brick diamond patterns, terra eotla
scrolls and rope moulding, heads and masks, spiral engaged Corinthian piers, coats-of-arms. and iron
balconettes. The stucco in the corner bays and the vertical marquee are not original The 1 I 05 West
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 6
Uptown Square Historic District
I^awrence Professional Building is a three-story brick building clad in dark and light pink terra cotta
It is designed in the Commercial Style with classical detailing, including spiral rope moulding on
the vertical piers and an elaborate cornice. The building was constructed in 1922.
The next block east contains three buildings from the first phase of residential development
in the district. These buildings are smaller scale, generally up to three stories, and did not
incorporate storefronts. On the north side of the street is the Fleur-de-lis Apartments, 1064 West
Lawrence (#12), a three-story apartment building constructed c. 1900 of tan and brown brick. The
building is in the Classical Revival style. Architectural elements of the building
include two stone entrance porticos with egg and dart moulding flanked by Ionic columns on bases
supporting a dcnlillated cornice, brick quoins, elongated voussoirs, wide overhanging eaves on
alternating rooflincs with metal cornices and brackets, and a corner turret with a flat, conical roof.
To the east is the Lawrence Apartments, 1058-1060 West Lawrence (#1 1), which is a three-storv
brick Chicago Six Flat with classical detailing. The building, which was constructed c. 1900, has
a rusticated stone facade, two three-sided bays on each end of the facade, an entrance portal flanked
by Ionic columns supporting a dcntillated cornice, and a stone cornice with dcnlillated frieze topped
by a stone parapet. Directly across Lawrence from these two buildings is a small, one-story brick
gas station (ill) surrounded by a parking lot that was constructed c. 1955. This gas station is no
longer in use. To the east on the south side of the street is the Wilton Hotel, 1039-1053 West
Lawrence (#6). This eight-story brick, wood and terra cotta building was designed in the Venetian
Gothic style in 1926. Exceptional architectural elements of the building include terra cotta pointed
arches with recessed coats-of-arms, decorative brick corbelling, and banded brick vouissoirs above
the top floor. On the street level, a brick facade incorporating a series of lobby windows has
replaced the original nine storefronts and restaurant. Across the street at the northwest corner of
Lawrence and Kenmore is the Middlckauf Apartments, 1042-1048 West Lawrence (#10). This four-
story brick apartment building was constructed in 1901 in the Classical Revival style. The building
has a stone base and stone spandrels above the first and fourth floors, two stone portals on Lawrence
with scrolls and egg and dart moulding, two porches on Kenmore with stone capitals and copper
bracketed cornices, seven side bays and one corner circular bay, and three balconies with iron
railings. The original bracketed copper cornice has been removed.
The 1000 block of West Lawrence contains three buildings within the district On the north
side of the streel is the New Lawrence Hotel, 1020 West Lawrence (/<9), which was constructed m
1928 in the Art Deco style. The 12-story residential building with commercial storefronts is
constructed of brick, stone, metal and terra cotta. the building is a "U^ shape above the first Hoor
1 he interior back wall of the courtyard lias vertical brick piers between the windows topped bv terra
cotta inodiilions of Native American heads in lull dress, flic storefront awnings and window
NPS Form 1 0-900-a OMB No. 1 024-001 8
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 7
Uptown Square Historic District
surrounds have decorative metalwork. The first floor is clad in black marble with zig zag patterns
with metal rosettes. The second floor windows have decorative terra cotta surrounds with floral
motifs, arid the third and fourth floor windows have alternating vertical stone surrounds. The south
side of the street includes a one-story brick commercial shopping center constructed in 1987, 1025-
1037 West Lawrence (#5), and the Mutual Insurance Building (#4), at the southwest comer of
Lawrence and Sheridan. The MutuaJ Insurance Building is an eight-story brick building with a white
terra cotta facade. The lower four floors were constructed in 1 922 and the upper floors were added
in 1927. The building is designed in the Classical Revival style and includes two-story terra cotta
surrounds topped by a segmental arch on the second and third floors, with the upper floors divided
by terra cotta piers with Corinthian capitals. A terra cotta parapet is topped by finials above each
pier.
Adjacent to the Mutual Insurance building on the south is the Lakeside Theater, 4730 North
Sheridan (i'\), constructed in 1914. The two-story brick theater was designed in the Classical
Revival style, and retains the terra cotta surround on the centra] arched entry way, terra cotta running
sills and headers on the second floor, and an elaborate terra cotta parapet and cornice with brackets.
The first floor storefronts and theater entrance have been bricked in.
The district includes two buildings on the south side of Lawrence east of Sheridan. On the
southeast corner is the Lawrence-Sheridan Apartments, 947-959 West Lawrence (//3), a brick
apartment building constructed c. 1900 with protruding storefronts which were added in 1924. The
Classical Revival style building has four circular bays on Sheridan and two on Lawrence. There is stone
banding between the floors and an overhanging black metal bracketed cornice tops the building.
Directly to tiic east is the Peoples Church, 94 1 West Lawrence (112), which was constructed in 1 926.
This Classical Revival style six-story building has a nisticated stone base topped by a stone frieze,
and six four-story engaged fluted columns topped by Ionic capitals. Above the fifth floor is another
stone frieze with a dentillated stone temple-front entablature. The comers of the building have stone
quoins.
The one structure identified within the district is the elevated rail line (#53), which runs north
and south through the center of the district between Broadway, Clifton and Winthrop The two-slory
structure enters the district on the south crossing Wilson just west of Broadway at the Wilson
Avenue blevatcd - Uptown Station (1131). The structure consists of steel girder supports and frame,
lopped by lour rail lines The station includes three wooden platforms between the tracks with an
unenclosed tool sheltering the central plattorm. From the I Uptown Station al Wilson the structure
moves north crossing Broadway, which runs at an angle to die northwest, then crossing Leland to
the east of Broadway North of Leland the structure changes to walled fill. The structure runs
directly north-south between Clifton on the west and an alley on the east. There is a second station
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 8
. Uptown Square Historic District
at Lawrence, with one wooden platform and unenclosed roof flanked by two tracks on each side.
The structure crosses Lawrence and continues north as walled fill and exits the district boundaries.
Of the 52 buildings and one structure within the district, 44 buildings and one structure are
considered contributing and eight buildings are considered non-contributing. The contributing
buildings were constructed during the period of significance and possess historic integrity through
their location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling which reflects their character at
that time. The non-contributing buildings within the district were cither constructed after 1950 or
do not possess historic integrity. These non-contributing buildings do not have a negative impact
on the character of the district as a whole as they are scattered throughout the district.
The following resource list identifies all of the buildings and one structure within the district.
The photographic documentation of the district includes views of many of the buildings.
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section
Uptown Square Historic District
RESOURCE LIST
Sheridan Road West Side
1 . Building/Address: Lakeside Theater / 4730 North Sheridan Road
Date: 1914
Architect: Ralph Cambcl Harris
Use (historic/current): Theater and Stores/Social Service
Current Occupant(s): Recently vacated by Columbia College Dance Center
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
Lawrence Avenue South Side from East to West
2. Building/ Address: Peoples Church of Chicago / 941 West Lawrence
Date: 1926
Architect: Jerome E.O. Pridmorc
Use (historic/current): Church/Church
Current Occupant(s): People's Church of Chicago
Number of Stories: 6
Materials: Brick and stone
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
3. Building/Address: Lawrence-Sheridan Apartments / 947-959 West Lawrence, 4751-4759
North Sheridan
Date: c. 1900 (storefronts added 1924)
Architect: unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial -Rcsidential/Commercial-Residenttal
Current Occupanl(s): S-L Pantry and ottiers
Number of Stones: 3
Materials: Brick, stone and metal
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 10
. Uptown Square Historic District
Building/Address: Mutual Insurance Building / 1001-1015 West Lawrence, 4750-4770
North Sheridan
Date: 1922/4-story addition 1927
Architect: Fugard & Knapp / addition by B. Leo Steiff
Use (historic/current): Office/Office
Current Occupant(s): Institute of Cultural Affairs and others
Number of Stories: 8
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
Building/Address: Lake Side Plaza / 1025-1037 West Lawrence
Date: 1987
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): None/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Community Mental Health Services and others
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick
Architectural Style: Modern
Comment: Non-contributing
Building/Address: Wilton Hotel / 1039-1053 West Lawrence
Date: 1926
Architect: Ralph D. Huszagh & Boyd Hill
Use (historic/current): Residential/Residential
Current Occupant(s): Lorali Retirement Hotel
Number of Stories: 8
Materials: Brick, wood and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Venetian Gothic
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page ll
Uptown Square Historic District
7. Building/ Address: Bulk Petroleum Gas Station / 1055-1063 West Lawrence
Date:c. 1955
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Gasoline Station/Parking
Current Occupant(s): Allright Parking
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick
Architectural Style: Modern
Comment: Non-contributing
8. Building/Address: 1 105 Lawrence Professional Building / 1101-1113 West Lawrence
Date: 1922
Architect: Frederick Teich
Use (historic/current): Ofiice-Retail/Office-Retail
Current Occupant(s): Aragon Food & Liquors, Chicago Jewelry Exchange and others
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Commercial Style with classical detailing
Comment: Contributing
L awrence Avenue North Side from East to West
9 Building/Address: New Lawrence Hotel / 1020 West Lawrence
Date: 1928
Architect: Ralph D. Huszagh &. Boyd Mill
Use (historic/current): Residential-Commcrcial/Residential-Commcrcial
Current Occupant(s): Lawrence House Retirement Hotel
Number of Stories: 12
Materials: Brick, limestone, metal and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 12
Uptown Square Historic District
10. Building/Address: Middlekauf Apartments / 1042-1048 West Lawrence, 4800-4808
North Kenmore
Date: 1901
Architect: John S. Woollacott
Use (historic/current): Residential/Residential
Current Occupant(s): Various Residential Occupants
Number of Stories: 4
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
1 1 . Building/Address: Lawrence Apartments / 1058-1060 West Lawrence
Date:c. 1900
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Residential/Residential
Current Occupant(s): Various Residential Occupants
Number of Stories: 3 with raised basement
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Chicago Six-Flal with classical detailing
Comment: Contributing
12. Building/ Address: Fleur-de-Lis Apartments / 1064 West Lawrence
Datc:c. 1900
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Residential/Residential
Current Occupant(s): Various Residential Occupants
Number of Stories: 3 with raised basement
Materials: Brick, limestone and metal
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PUCES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 13
Uptown Square Historic District
13. Building/ Address: Aragon Ballroom / 1 100-1 110 West Lawrence
Date: 1926
Architect: Ralph D. Huszagh & Boyd Hill, with John Eberson
Use (historic/current): Entertainment/Entertainment
Current Occupant(s): Aragon Entertainment and ABC & Me Daycare
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Spanish Revival (Moorish) with classical detailing
Comment: Contributing
Broad wa y East Side North to South
14. Building/Address: Chicago Motor Club Building / 4833 North Broadway
Date:c. 1940
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Office/Office
Current Occupant(s):
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Brick with stone panel facade
Architectural Style: Art Dcco
Comment: Contributing
1 5. Building/Address: Riviera Garage Building / 4829 North Broadway
Date: 1916 with alterations in 1940 and 1970
Architect: A. H. Dunford
Use (historic/current): Garage/Restaurant
Current Occupant(s): A-Dong Restaurant
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick
Architectural Style: Modern facade
Comment: Non-contributing
MPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 14
Uptown Square Historic District
16. Building/Address: North Shore Fireproof Storage Building #2 I 4821 North Broadway
Date: 1910 with 2-story addition 1916
Architect: A. H. Dunford
Use (historic/current): Storage-Commercial/Storage-Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Thailand Food Corp.
Number of Stories: 5
Materials: Brick, limestone and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
17. Building/Address: Automotive Building/481 1-4815 North Broadway
Date: 1969
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): None/Automotive Retail
Current Occupant(s): Goodyear
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick
Architectural Style: Modern
Comment: Non-contributing
18. Building/Address: Clancy Building / 4801 North Broadway, 1134-1146 West Lawrence
Date: 1904 with addition c. 1948
Architect: Unknown
Use: Residential-Commercial/Rcsidential-Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Charming Wok and others
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 15
Uptown Square Historic District
19. Building/ Address: Uptown National Bank Building/ 4753 North Broadway
Date: 1924 with 4-story addition 1928
Architect: Marshall & Fox
Use (historic/current): Office-Commercial/Office-Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Uptown National Bank of Chicago and others
Number of Stories: 12
Materials: Brick and terra colta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
20. Building/Address: Uptown Broadway Building/ 4703-4715 North Broadway
Date: 1926
Architect: Walter \V. Ahlschlager
Use (historic/current): Office-Commercial/Office-Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Equator Club, African Wonderland Imports and others
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick, terra cotta and metal
Architectural Style: Spanish Baroque Revival
Comment: Contributing - Individually listed on the National Register
21 . Building/Address: II. W. Rubloff Building / 4701 North Broadway
Date: 1921
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Majestic Men's Wear Store
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 16
^ Uptown Square Historic District
22. Building/Address: Kresge Building / 4657-4663 North Broadway
Date: 1930
Architect: John Hocke (?)
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Angkor Wat Market, Style House
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
23. Building/Address: 4653 North Broadway
Date: 1901
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Urban Bikes
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick, terra cotta and limestone
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
24. Building/Address: 4647-465 1 North Broadway
Date: c. 1940
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Z. Wallis Army & Navy Store, Afrimex International
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Brick with metal cladding
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 17
Uptown Square Historic District
25. Building/ Address: 4645 North Broadway
Date: 1905
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commercial-Residential
Current Occupant(s): Beds+ III
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick, limestone, wood and metal
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
26. Building/Address: 4643 North Broadway
Date: 1905 with alterations 1930 and rear addition 1936
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residenlial/Commercial-Residcntiai
Current Occupant(s): Gigio's Pizzeria
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
27. Building/Address: 4635-4641 North Broadway
Date: 1905
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commcrcial-Residential
Current Occupant(s): Flim Wig, Shoo-Bazaar, and others
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page is
Uptown Square Historic District
28. Building/Address: 463 1 North Broadway
Date: 1948
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s):Two Brothers Store for Men and Boys
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: brick with metal facade
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
29. Building/ Address: 4629 North Broadway
Date: 1930
Architect: William 11. Harlev, Jr. (?)
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Quintrice Hair Studio, Louise African Hair Braiding
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Comment: Contributing
30. Building/Address: 4623-4627 North Broadway
Date: 1916
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Dollar Plus+, Trend
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Glazed brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Commercial Style with Sullivanesque detailing
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 19
, Uptown Square Historic District
3 1 . Building/Address: 462 1 North Broadway
Date: 1902
Architect: Enoch Hill Tumock
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commercial-Residential
Current Occupant(s): House Dressing
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Commercial Style with classical detailing
Comment: Contributing
32. Building/Address: 4619 North Broadway
Date: 1907
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commercial-Residential
Current Occupant(s): Toppers Records
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
33. Building/ Address: 4613-4617 North Broadway
Date: 1928 with alterations 1974
Architect: Walter \V. Ahlschlagcr
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Rcsidcntial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): FootLocker
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick and stucco
Architectural Style: Modern facade
Comment: Non-contributing
NPS Form 1 0-900-a OMB No. 1 024-001 8
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 20
Uptown Square Historic District
34. Building/ Address: 4601-461 1 North Broadway
Datc:c. 1965
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): None/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): City Sports, Rainbow Shops and others
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick
Architectural Style: Modem
Comment: Non-contributing
Wilson Avenue North Side
35^ Building/AddressPwilson Avenue Theater (Standard Vaudeville) / 1050 West Wilson
Date: 1909
Architect: Henry L. Ottenheimer
Use (historic/current): Theater-Coinmercial/Commcrcial
Current Occupant(s): TCP Bank
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
Broadway Street West Side South to North
36. Building/ Address: McJunkin Building / 4520-4570 North Broadway
Date: 1923
Architect: Marshall & Fox
Use (historic/current): Office-Commercial/Office-Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Back's Book Store. 46"' Ward Office and others
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page _2l
___ Uptown Square Historic District
37. Building/ Address: Wilson Avenue Elevated - Uptown Station / 4600-4620 North
Broadway
Date: 1922
Architect: Arthur U. Gerbcr
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Transportation/Commercial-Transportation
Current Occupant(s): Chicago Transit Authority station, Popeye's Chicken, Payless Shoe
Source and others
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Terra Cotta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
38. Building/Address: Barry Building / 4660-4666 North Broadway
Date: 1905
Architect: Ernest J. Ohrenstein
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commercial-Residential
Current Occupant(s): Uptown Snack Shop and others
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Commercial Style with classical detailing
Comment: Contributing
39. Building/Address: Plymouth Hotel / 4700-4714 North Broadway, 1 136-1 148 West
Leland
Date: 1912
Architect: George Kingsley
Use (historic/current): Hotel-Commercial/Vacant
Current Occupant(s): Vacant
Number of Stories: 4
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 page 22
Uptown Square Historic District
40. Building/Address: Loren Miller & Company Store / 4720-4726 North Broadway
Date: 1915
Architect: William L. Klcwer
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Vacant
Current Occupant(s): Vacant
Number of Stories: 5
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
4 1 . Building/Address: Sheridan Trust & Savings Bank / 4728-4740 North Broadway
Date: 1914
Architect: Harris H. Huehl & Richard G. Schmid
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Vacant
Current Occupant(s): Vacant
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Limestone and brick
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
42. Building/Address: Green Mill Gardens / 4800-4810 North Broadway
Date: 1914 with addition 1922 and reduction in 1925
Architect: C. S. Michaelsen
Use (historic/current): Entertainment-Office-Commcrcial/Entertainment-OI lice-
Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Green Mill Cocktail Lounge. U.S. Submarine, and others
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Commercial Style with classical detailing
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United Stales Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 23
Uptown Square Historic District
43. Building/Address: 4812 North Broadway
Date: 1925
Architect: Cornelius W. Rapp & George L. Rapp
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Shake Rattle & Read Book Box
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Terra Cotta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
44. Building/Address: Uptown Theatre / 4814-4816 North Broadway
Date: 1925
Architect: Cornelius W. & George L. Rapp
Use (historic/current): Theater/Vacant
Current Occupant(s): Vacant
Number of Stories: 7
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Spanish Baroque
Comment: Contributing - Individually listed on National Register and Chicago Landmark
45. Building/Address: North Shore Fireproof Storage Building #1 / 4818-4822 North
Broadway
Date: 1994 with addition 1907 and extant facade 1925
Architect: Unknown (Rapp & Rapp designed 1 925 facade)
Use (historic/current): Storage-Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Broadway Furniture and others
Number of Stories: 4
Materials: Terra Cotta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 1 0-900-a OMB No. 1 024-001 8
United Slates Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 24
, Uptown Square Historic District
46. Building/Address: 4824 Broadway Building / 4824-4826 North Broadway
Date: c. 1920 with extant facade c. 1970
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Indochina Medical and Dental Center and others
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick and concrete
Architectural Style: Modern
Comment: Non-contributing
47. Building/Address: Spiegel Furniture Store / 4840 North Broadway
Date: 1926
Architect: B. Leo Steiff
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Vacant
Current Occupant(s): Recently vacated by Heilig-Mcyers Furniture Store
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and terra cotta
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
48. Building/Address: U.S. Post Office - Uptown Branch / 4850 North Broadway
Date: 1939
Architect: Louis A. Simon (supervising) and Howard Lovewell Cheney (consulting)
Use (historic/current): Post Office/Post Office
Current Occupant(s): U. S. Postal Service
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick and limestone
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Comment: Contributing
NPSForm10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 25
Uptown Square Historic District
Racine Avenue West Side South to North
49. Building/Address: Fox Building / 4734-4736 North Racine
Date: 1911
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): El Condor #2 and vacant storefront
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Glaze brick
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
50. Building/Address: Keane Building / 4740-4744 North Racine
Date: 1911
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Commercial/Commercial
Current Occupant(s): Golden House Restaurant
Number of Stories: 1
Materials: Brick with wood cladding
Architectural Style: Modern facade
Comment: Non-contributing
5 1 . Building/Address: Riviera Theater and Building / 4746-4760 North Racine
Date: 1918 with office building facade added around mid-century
Architect- unknown (completed by Cornelius W. & George L. Rapp)
Use (historic/current): Theater-Office-Commercial/Entertainment-Office-Commercial
Current OcCupant(s): Jam Productions, Furniture USA, Genesis Mart and others
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick and terra cotta (theater), metal cladding (office building)
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 1 0-900-a OMB No. 1 024-00 1 8
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 7 Page 26
____ Uptown Square Historic District
Leland Avenue North Side
52. Building/Address: Monroe Building/ 1 100-1 1 16 West Leland
Date: 1905 with addition 1922
Architect: Samuel Crowen
Use (historic/current): Commercial-Residential/Commercial-Residential
Current Occupant(s): Van's Nail School, PC Net Technology and others
Number of Stories: 3
Materials: Brick, terra cotta, metal and wood
Architectural Style: Commercial Style
Comment: Contributing
M is cellaneous
53. Structure: Elevated Rail Line
Date: 1921
Architect: Unknown
Use (historic/current): Transportation/Transportation
Current Occupant(s): Chicago Transit Authority
Number of Stories: 2
Materials: Metal, wood, concrete
Architectural Style: N/A
Comment: Contributing
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 8 Page 27
Uptown Square Historic District
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The Uptown Square Historic District is significant under criteria A and C of the National
Register Criteria. The Uptown Square district contains property associated with the broader
historical patterns of entertainment and recreation, commerce, and transportation. This district also
contains property that embodies the distinctive characteristics of various types of architecture,
including Spanish Baroque Revival, Classical Revival and Commercial Style. The district is
representative of the architecture of the early twentieth century and contains various high style
buildings such as theaters, a bank and several three story commercial buildings. Uptown Square
retains most of its original building mass and is representative of the outlying business centers that
emerged in the early decades of the twentieth century in Chicago. Uptown Square grew rapidly
between 1900 and 1930 and was widely known as an entertainment and retail corridor until 1950.
The period of significance for this district is 1900-1950. This time period includes two major
phases of construction and reflects the importance of the area as an entertainment and commercial
district. The two major phases of construction werel 900-191 5, which involved smaller scale
buildings, and 1920-1930, which involved larger scale buildings. The period of significance ends
in 1950. By this time, the automobile was widely used for transportation, people were flocking to
the suburbs to live and shop, and the onset of television brought an end to the era of movie palaces.
The following quotation illustrates the character of the neighborhood at its peak as an
entertainment area:
This wide spacious square, where three important streets intersect, is the crossroads
of "Uptown," where the brilliance of night-time electric incandescence reaches a
glaring climax. Here are the monster, lighted signs of two luxurious motion-picture
theatres which throw a golden glow almost over the entire square and lights up the
white terra cotta facade of a skyscraper bank building across the street. Near by a
famous "Uptown" night club attracts the sun dodgers and is a rallying point for the
beau monde of the area (John Drury. "Byways of the City," Chicago Daily News.
February 16, 1927).
In 1915, I.orcn Miller opened a department store at Leland Avenue and Broadway (#40)
which he called the "Uptown Store." Miller is credited with bringing the name Uptown to the
neighborhood (Jakus and Lyden. 1980: 21 ), His store attracted other independent retailers into the
Broadway-Lawrence area. On January 17, 1921, Miller printed the first issue of The Up-Ti>u->;
Advertiser, a free advertising circular funded by the advertisements placed by various local
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 8 Page 28
Uptown Square Historic District
merchants. The paper's popularity led other area businessmen to adopt the name "Uptown." Within
a year, the local newspaper The Northside Citizen was renamed the Uptown News, the Wilson
Elevated station (#37) was labeled the "Uptown Station" and a group of local businessmen founded
the Central Uptown Association. The City of Chicago officially recognized the intersection of
Broadway and Lawrence as "Uptown Square" in 1930, drawing a parallel with New York City's
nexus of entertainment, Times Square.
Historical Development
The area now known as Uptown was a grassy, sandy stretch of land just west of Lake
Michigan until the mid-1 800s. This area was well-traveled by Native Americans, especially along
a path called the Green Bay Trail, now Clark Street. This trail provided access from Fort Dearborn
to the Green Bay country. In the decades after the great Chicago fire in 1871, large areas
surrounding the city began to attract new residents. The horse-drawn omnibus and horse railway had
already permitted development in Lake View Township, incorporated in 1857 and extending north
from Fullcrton to Devon and west from the lake to Western (Pacyga & Skerrelt, 1986: 87). The
introduction of cable cars, elevated steam railroads and electric surface lines intensified outward
movement. Thus land previously too remote for residential use was brought into the city's orbit.
The suburb of Lake View, which included today's Uptown community, experienced rapid
growth in the 1870s and 1880s. Early settlers were predominantly German or of German descent,
although there were also a substantial number of Swedes. Most residents lived in modest frame
cottages or farmhouses. The more elaborate residences located along Sheridan Road belonged to
wealthy Chicagoans who sought a suburban lifestyle reasonably close to the city. The Uptown area
became part of Chicago when the city of Lake View elected to be annexed in 1889 (Local
Community Fact Book, 1995: 20).
In 1872, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad laid track through Uptown
connecting the north side with the Union Depot downtown. Streetcars also provided an important
transportation link between Uptown and downtown Chicago. The attached Transportation Chart lists
the various means of transportation and their routes during the period of significance. The most
dramatic growth of Uptown occurred after 1900 when the Northwestern Elevated Railroad Company
line was extended north to Wilson Avenue. "At this time most of the surrounding area still had a
distinctly rural character. Trainmen recall having an unobstructed view of nearby Lake Michigan
Irom the station's platforms, and cows grazed in the structure's shadow. Bv the 1920s the rural
character had completely disappeared, obliterated by the rapid march of urbanization" (Moffat. 1995:
198).
This extension of rail service in 1900 was extremely important to the north side. After the
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extension of the elevated, the commercial district along Wilson-Broadway-Lawrencc began to
flourish. I he extension created a corridor of residential and commercial buildings along the tracks
and developed a solid business and entertainment area at Wilson-Lawrence-Broad way In 1908 a
local businessman Peter Stohr commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design an arcade consisting of
shops and a train station (Gartner, Kazenas and Petersons, 1975: 2). John S. Van Bergen completed
the Stohr Arcade in 1909. This structure was demolished and a second station to serve the elevated
trains at Wilson Avenue (#37) was constructed in 1922-23.
When the elevated railroad canie to Wilson Avenue at the turn of the century, Uptown began
its career as a transportation nexus and a pleasure resort. The Wilson Avenue and Clarendon Avenue
beaches were leading destinations for summer outings. "Every cross street for three quarters of a
mile north and south of Wilson Avenue [led] to a beach" (Chicago Daily News February 1 8 1 923)
Uptown's beaches originally attracted people to the area as a destination for entertainment and
recreation. By the early 1920s the Uptown neighborhood was crowded with restaurants, theaters
cafes, and dance halls. The area became identified with a new lifestyle: hotel living, kitchenette
apartments, single-person households, cafeterias, movies, nightclubs, and shopping.
The Uptown shopping district at Wilson-Broadway-Lawrence offered an alternative to
Chicago's downtown stores and by the mid-1920s became one of the most important commercial
centers outside the Loop (Pacyga and Skcrrctl, 1986: 109). Restaurants and cafes, smaller retail
stores, theaters, bakeries, food markets, and pharmacies such as those found in the Wilson-
Broadway-Lawrencc area fulfilled the basic needs of the surrounding neighbors, who saw no reason
to travel downtown. The Wilson elevated train station made it simple foi people to travel to the
district to shop during the daytime and attend nightly concerts and theater shows.
The Uptown Square Historic District had early origins as a theater and entertainment district
1 wo ot the first theaters erected within the Uptown Square Historic District, the Wilson Avenue
I heater (#35) and the Lakeside Theater (#1 ). arc still standing. The Wilson Avenue Theater at 1050
West Wdson was built in 1909 and operated as a Standard Vaudeville venue. In the early 1920s,
when grand movie palaces overshadowed more modest theaters, the Wilson Avenue Theater was
converted into a bank. It became the first home of the Uptown National Bank, now located at 4753
North Broadway (#19). The Lakeside Theater at 4730 North Sheridan Road was built in 1914 In
recent years, it housed (he Columbia College Dance Center.
The Green Mill Gardens nightclub (#42) lies at the heart of Uptown Square This building
constructed in 1914. originally featured an outdoor seating area, as illustrated in the attached
newspaper advertisement. In 1925 (he Uptown Theatre (#44) was built on the sue ofthc outdoor
seating area, but indoor operations continued. The Green Mill prospered as one of the city's most
popular nightclubs. The attraction of (his area was enhanced by an earlier prohibition restriction that
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created a dry area just south and west of Lawrence Avenue (Palmer, 1928). When the 18"'
Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibited consumption of alcohol throughout the
United States in 1919, the intersection of Broadway and Lawrence already had an established
reputation for nightlife. Throughout the 1920s newspapers reported on the area as a haven of
entertainment and fast living. "The popular conception of the Wilson Avenue district is that it is a
section where easy morals prevail, where everybody lives beyond his income and dodges bill
collectors. ... If any of the charges against the Wilson Avenue district were substantially true. ..the
district would not be what it is today - the loop's little brother" (Chicago Daily News May 19
1923).
The Riviera Theater (#5 1 ) was an important attraction in Uptown. In 1917 the investment
team Balaban & Katz hired C.W. and George Rapp to design the elaborate French Renaissance
movie palace, which featured over 2000 scats. The Riviera opened as the largest and most elaborate
theater in the chain and included a thirty-piece orchestra. The Riviera enjoyed great success; 1 8,000
people visited the theater on a weekly basis in 1918, boosting the numbers of patrons of Uptown
Square (Northside Sunday Citizen, January 16, 1927). The 1920s dawned as the era of the grand
movie palace. Following the success of the Riviera, Balaban and Katz opened several more movie
palaces in Chicago, including the Tivoli, Chicago, Norshore, Oriental, Paradise. Southtown,
Nortown. arid the crown jewel of their chain, the Uptown Theatre (Davis and Mitchell, 1997). Only
six to ten Balaban and Katz movie palaces remain standing in Chicago, (wo of which, the Riviera
and the Uptown Theatre, arc within the Uptown Square Historic District.
In 1 925, Balaban and Katz again combined forces with Rapp and Rapp to build the ultimate
movie palace, the Uptown Theatre (#44). They chose a Spanish Baroque style with a terra cotta
facade. It cost $4 million to build the Uptown. Until the opening of Radio City Music Hall in 1932,
the Uptown was the largest theater in the United States (Pomaranc, Commission on Chicago
Landmarks, 1989). The theater featured a five-story lobby including a chandelier, an "acre of seats"
(the actual number was 4,381) and the most expensive Wurlitzer grand organ then built, as well as
a state-of-the-art air conditioning system. By 1927 the Uptown Theatre alone brought over 90,000
people to the neighborhood on a weekly basis (Norlhside Sunday Citizen, January 1 6, 1 927)
The Aragon Ballroom (#13) was known coast-to-coast as one of "America's Most Beautiful
Ballrooms" during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. In 1926 the architectural firm Huszagh and Hill
designed the Aragon ballroom in the Spanish Baroque style and constructed it out of brick and terra
cotta. The owners, William and Andrew Karzas, arranged for elaborate decor and strict policies
against alcohol consumption, for they intended for the Aragon to impress critics and convince the
public that dancing need not be a "bad" thing. Flic ballroom resembled the courtyard of a Moorish
castle. Palm trees and twinkling lights in the ceiling gave people the sense of dancing underneath
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___ Uptown Square Historic District
the nighttime sky. The all-maple dance floor includes a cushion of cork, felt and springs that absorbs
the vibrations of hundreds of dancing feet. The reputation of the Aragon grew out of its spectacular
ability to enthrone the Big Band era. The ballroom's embracing sound was played by such
performers as Dick Jurgens, Wayne (The Waltz King) King, Lawrence Welk, Guy Lombardo, Eddy-
Howard, Isham Jones, Art Kassel, and Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. Tommy Dorscy gave a
Philadelphia kid named Frank Sinatra a break by allowing him to sing at the Aragon.
Transportation improvements between 1900 and the early 1920s helped to solidify the
Uptown Square district's role as a destination for entertainment and commerce. Bulletin 131 of the
Central Electric Railfans' Association describes the opening of the Lawrence Avenue Station and
refers to the opening of the new station at Wilson:
On the evening of February 27, 1923, a new station was opened at Lawrence Avenue
to serve the thriving business and entertainment district there. Present for the
ceremonies and speech making were company officials, members of the local
businessmen's association and the elevated's 40-piece band. That year also saw
the. ..construction of a large terra cotta clad station at Wilson Avenue (Moffat 1995-
252).
The new station at Wilson Avenue (#37) replaced the Stohr Arcade designed by Frank Lloyd
Wright less than 15 years after it was built. The second station, constructed in 1922-1923, was
designed by Arthur U. Gerber in the Beaux Arts style, a combination of Classical and Baroque
influence (Graham Garfield, 1997-9). Where Wright's station had been square and simple, the new
station built by Stow Building Company was ornate and heavily decorated. It exists today with the
major portion of the top facade missing. The new station, called the Uptown Station, displays
pilasters along the side walls and the main entrance, a subdued variation of the frontispiece for Grand
Central Terminal in New York (Jakus and Lyden, 1980: 13).
Even with public transit improvements of the 1920s. Chicagoans became more and more
enamored with the motor car. In the early 1930s, Lake Shore Drive was extended alone the north
lakelront to Foster Avenue on landfill that also created additional parkland. Grade separation
cloverleafs, something new in road engineering, provided access and egress to Lake Shore Drive a'
Montrose, Wilson and Lawrence Avenues. By 1936, Uptown's attractions were easily reached b\
elevated (rain, streetcar, bus and automobile.
Although entertainment and commerce established Uptown as a destination point outside
Chicago's Loop, one of the best known Uptown locations was Dr. Preston Bradley's Peoples Church
ol Chicago (U7). Dr. Bradley and a small group of Chicagoans established the Peoples Progressive
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Church of Chicago in July 1912 according to Dr. Bradley's biographer, Daniel Ross Chandler, who
served as an assistant pastor of Peoples Church and Dr. Bradley's understudy. In the fall of 1913,
the congregation moved into "a very large theater outside Chicago's Loop, the Wilson Avenue
Theater." The congregation moved to the Pantheon Theater on Sheridan Road in 1918 where
services were conducted and Dr. Bradley preached until 1925 (Chandler, 1971: p. 32-33). In 1923,
the Sunday morning worship service was broadcast on the radio, launching what became the oldest
continuous church service broadcast in the United States. Broadcasts continued over WJJD and
WON until the late 1960s (Chandler, 1971, p. 45).
On June 14, 1925, ground was broken for the new Peoples Church of Chicago. The
dedication of the new building, designed by J.E.O. Pridmore, was on October 10, 1926. The
theatrical heritage of Uptown and of the church's previous locations was carried into its new home.
Chandler describes the church as "a stately Romanesque playhouse auditorium; the attractive gold
and white color scheme was enhanced by the dark walnut paneling. Modern theater seats arranged
in abbreviated semicircles across the inclined floor seemed dramatic in contrast to the regular, evenly
rowed pews in the traditional churches." He quotes Ralph Schoenleben, writing in the I.iberalist,
September, 1942: "...the church resembles a beautiful playhouse. It has an inclined door, theater
seats instead of pews, and a very large balcony. The choir is banked at the back of a sort of stage.
Dr. Bradley's 'pulpit' is but a simple desk." Then he concludes, "The theatrical atmosphere
characteristic of motion-picture houses like the Pantheon was extended into the permanent residence
for the Peoples Church" (Chandler, 1971: p. 41).
Dr. Bradley's congregation continued to grow. The Chicago Daily News, June 8, 1940,
reported that the membership numbered 3,431 with an additional radio roll of 8,000. In March 1943.
American Magazine said the Sunday congregation that came to Uptown to worship exceeded 2,200
and the radio audience more than five million (Chandler, 1971, p. 55).
The liberal Protestant clergyman's reach, through radio and extensive preaching tours
extended far beyond Uptown. He was asked in 1935, 1939 and 1955 "to seek the mayorship of
Chicago." 1 le was a citizen-advisor to the United States delegation at the Charter Convention of the
United Nations. A magnificent room in the Chicago Cultural Center at Washington and Michigan
is named for Dr. Preston Bradley. According to Chandler, "Few institutions in the United States
exceed the Peoples Church of Chicago as the lengthened shadow from one man. Ministering to
human beings congested beneath towering neon-lighted skyscrapers and within tenement-ridden
poverty-stricken ghettos, he served as the people's pastor" (Chandler. 1971, p. 61). Peoples Church
still stands as a dignified presence on Lawrence Avenue and a monument to Dr. Preston Bradley.
I'he congregation is small, but the church opens its doors to house the homeless and provide space
lor a variety ol charitable, social and artistic endeavors
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The concentration of entertainment and recreation venues combined with the nearby elevated
train stations made Uptown Square a popular and convenient entertainment corridor. At the same
time, Uptown Square was becoming an important commercial district, or "outlying business center."
A major city such as Chicago has a number of outlying business centers in addition to its central
business district. The outlying business center represented the central business district in miniature.
It possessed a marked concentration with closely spaced retail stores: clothing stores, furniture
stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores, one or more department stores, and a mix of convenience stores.
'These centers attracted customers from long distances, and so they developed at focal points of
infra-city transportation (Proudfoot, 1937: 425-428).
The district surrounding the Wilson Avenue station sold more cut flowers, candy, cigarettes
and tobacco than in any other section of the city (Chicago Daily News, May 19, 1923: 12). Wilson
Avenue contained a concentration of men's clothing stores, with the women's clothing stores
concentrated on Sheridan Road. The Loren Miller and Company Store, or the "Uptown Store" as
it was known, opened in 1915 at 4720-4746 North Broadway (#40) and eventually spread to the hotel
and bank buildings flanking it. In 1930, the store boasted high numbers of accounts from
surrounding northside neighborhoods (Northside Sunday Citizen, January 3, 1930). The Uptown
Store was bought by the Goldblatt Brothers in 1931 and remained open as a Goldblatt's until
December 1998.
Hd Marciniak in his book, Reversing Urban Decline, described Uptown in the 1920s:
By the middle 1920's, Uptown had become one of Chicago's most successful
business centers. It boasted two large banks, a handsome office building for doctors,
lawyers and dentists, elegant restaurants and two movie theaters which attracted well-
dressed crowds day and night. ... Around this dazzling commercial center, hundreds
of three-story apartment buildings sprang up to meet the growing demand for rental
housing. Flevator apartment hotels of nine stories and more added to the high
density. Uptown became one of the most heavily populated areas in the United
States. Before the economic earthquake of the Great Depression struck in the 1 93()'s.
vacant land in Uptown was almost impossible to find (Marciniak. 1 98 I : p. II).
Apartment hotels such as the New Lawrence Hotel. 1020 West Lawrence and the Wilton
I lotel. 1039-1053 West Lawrence, offered inexpensive living for singles and voting married couples
Attracted to Uptown first by its lakeside location and accessible transportation and later bv
entertainment and commerce, an upwardly mobile, young population moved into Uptown's
apartment hotels. According to 1'acyga and Skerrett. "While some young married couples moved
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from apartment hotels into family homes. ..most did not remain in the area for extended periods
I lms even before the Depression struck, Uptown was well on its way to becoming a transient
district" (Pacyga and Skerrett, 1986: 110).
The lights of Uptown Square continued to bum brightly until the Great Depression struck the
nation. According to Marciniak, "It was a financial shock from which Uptown never recovered.
New housing construction stopped. Purchasing power declined among consumers generally, and the
unemployed in particular. The retail business of local merchants was devastated, as independent
stores in Uptown and elsewhere folded one by one" (Marciniak, 1981: 19).
World War II brought more Shockwaves to the area. "Uptown drew a much different crowd
in 1949 than it did in 1926. Rowdy servicemen on leave from bases near the city surged into the
neighborhood. At the public transportation stops, particularly the el and train stations honkey-tonk
joints brassily competed for attention" (Jakus & Lyden, 1980: 25). Uptown's small apartments with
cheap rents became handy accommodations for workers in the defense industry who came to
Chicago. Landlords remodeled buildings, breaking up larger apartments into smaller furnished units.
"In an era of gas rationing and wartime cutbacks in auto production, Uptown's convenient
transportation made small apartments a rental bargain" (Marciniak, 1981: 19).
following World War II, a severe housing shortage prompted even more conversions.
Single-family homes and apartment buildings in areas surrounding Uptown Square were cut up into
smaller units and rooming houses. "Largely because of its cheap rents, Uptown became a port of
entry for thousands of Appalachian Whiles and American Indians who moved into Chicago during
the 1950s and 1960s. No longer the city's bright-light district, Uptown fell on hard times" (Pacyga
& Skerrett, 1986: p. 111).
Uptown remained a port of entry through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s for Cubans, Hispanics,
Middle Easterners, Africans, Koreans, Vietnamese, Cambodians and other refugees from Indo-
Chma. Several small storefronts along Broadway and Wilson Avenues changed hands frequently
or stood vacant. As was happening in many older urban areas in the United States, affluent residents
tied to the suburbs. As television became the entertainment of choice for Americans, theaters and
entertainment venues struggled to survive.
A re hi tec tine
the Uptown Square Historic District is significant for its buildings that excmplily
distinctive characteristics of several architectural styles from the period of 1900 to 1950 and
represent the work of prominent architects of the period There are a total of 21 architects who
designed 32 of the district's buildings, with the architects of the remaining 20 buildings unknown
Most ot these 20 buildings tire smaller and from the earlier phase of development
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The building types and styles found within the district reflect the point in time at which they
were constructed. Between the early 19"' and mid 20"' centuries, most commercial buildings were
designed to be seen from the front. The facade gives commercial architecture its distinctive qualities
and distinguishes one building from the next (Longstreth, 1987: 16-17). The early phase of
commercial development in the district, from 1900 to 1910, was characterized by buildings with low
massing and scale, one to three stories in height, often without elaborate ornamentation. These
buildings were constructed to the sidewalk, with side walls attached to the adjacent buildings. In the
Uptown Square Historic District, these commercial buildings arc clustered on Broadway near Wilson
and the elevated train station.
A majority of the buildings had commercial storefronts on the first floor with apartments
above. These buildings were mainly brick, and ornamentation included stone lintels and sills,
storefront surrounds of stone or terra cotta, and stone or metal cornices or parapets. The early
commercial buildings were not usually designed in a specific architectural style, but often included
details from a style, such as Classical Revival, 4621 North Broadway (#31), or Suliivancsque, 4623-
4627 North Broadway (#30). Usually the architects of these smaller buildings were not nationally
recognized but had smaller local practices. In the Uptown Square Historic District only three of the
buildings on the 4600 block of North Broadway have an identified architect. Enoch Hill Turnock.
who designed the building at 462 1 North Broadway in 1 902, was also the architect for the Brewster
Apartments, a Chicago Landmark located at Divcrsey and Pine Grove.
The early phase of residential development in the district incorporated small apartment
buildings and six flat apartment buildings. The residential buildings were two to four stories in
height and often were designed with specific stylistic elements such as Queen Anne or Classical
Revival. An example is the Middlekauf Apartments (#10), constructed in 1901 and designed by
architect John S. Woollacott. The four-story building was designed in the Classical Revival style,
incorporating such elements as egg and dart moulding, stone capitals and a bracketed cornice. Mr.
Woollacott also designed the Fullerton Avenue Presbyterian Church, 600 West Fullerton Parkway,
in 1888 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, and the Ravenswood Methodist Episcopal Church.
4501 North Hermitage, in 1890 incorporating Romanesque and Suliivancsque elements (Sinkevitch.
1993: 190, 223).
While the building boom of the 1920s had yet to transform Lawrence Avenue, slightly larger
buildings were constructed north of the elevated tracks in the 4700 block of North Broadway. These
buildings did not grow much in terms of height, but were slightly larger in scale, with three buildings
covering one entire block. The first of these buildings was the Plymouth I lotel (#39). Constructed
in 1912 of dark brown brick, the four-story building employed the Commercial Style of storefronts,
with three upper floors and a parapet. Designed by architect George Kingslev, the building's
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minimal ornamentation includes decorative brick patterns and green and white terra colla mouldings
While Kinglcy's restrained design of the Plymouth Hotel reflected the period, his 1923 design of
the Rccbie Storage & Moving Company, 2325 North Clark, reflected the growing elaborateness of
facades in the 1920s, and incorporated inspired terra cotta designs in the Egyptian Revival style
(Sinkevitch, 1993: 188).
The firm of Huehl & Schmid designed the Sheridan Trust & Savings Bank (#41) in 1914 at
the intersection of Broadway and Racine. While only two stories in height, the building reflects a
determined attempt at Classical Revival style, which was a popular style for financial institutions.
Designed with a limestone facade, the classical elements of the building include two-story arched
window surrounds divided by engaged stone piers with Ionic capitals. A dentillated frieze and
overhanging cornice support a Iwo-tiered stone cornice. Harris Huehl and Richard Schmid partnered
an architecture firm in Chicago for nearly 20 years until Huehl's death in 1918 (Withey and Withey,
1956: 540). Huehl & Schmid were most noted for their work designing Shriner auditoriums. One
of their largest and best preserved is the Medinah Temple, 600 North Wabash, constructed in 1913
with an Arabic motif (Sinkevitch, 1993: 123).
The 1920s constituted the second phase of development in the district. With the building
boom of the 1920s, real estate speculation created the desire for larger buildings. The growing
market of the Lorcn Miller & Company Store (#40) and the location of the neighborhood near rapid
transportation and Wilson Avenue shopping made Uptown Square a prime location for apartments,
offices, and theater and entertainment facilities. The 1920s saw the proliferation of high-style
building design, with extravagant ornamentation covering taller, wider facades. These larger
buildings, which represented a larger investment by the owner and a more prominent position on the
street, required the expertise of more prominent architects.
One of the most prominent architectural firms to work in the Uptown Square Historic District
was Rapp & Rapp. Comprised of brothers Cornelius Ward Rapp (1861-1927) and George Leslie
Rapp (1878-1942), they designed numerous movie theaters in Chicago and around the country.
Within the district they were responsible for the Riviera Theater and Building (ttS 1 ), the Uptown
Theatre (#44), the commercial building at 4812 North Broadway (#43), and the facade of the
commercial-office building at 48 1 8-4822 North Broadway (#45). The brothers formed a partnership
in 1 906 and soon became known for their movie theater designs. They began work for the Balahan
and katz chain in 1917 with the Riviera Theater, and went on to create a number of movie palaces
in Chicago (Withey and Withey. 1956: 497). The firm continued its association when (he circuit
merged with Paramount-Publix Theaters in 1925, expanding their practice nationwide. Rapp &
Rapp designed over 400 theaters, the majority of them during the 1920s. Rapp & Rapp were among
the most important and influential American theater architects of the period (Levin and Longstreth,
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1982: 532).
The Rapps introduced with the Riviera and continued with the Uptown what was to become
a familiar theme in building design in Uptown Square in the 1920s, exuberant and elaborately
decorative building facades. French Renaissance, Spanish Baroque, and Classical Revival were all
incorporated in buildings by the Rapps in Uptown Square. Following the introduction of the French
Renaissance-designed Riviera Theater, another prominent Chicago architecture firm designed an
elaborately ornamented office building at the southwest corner of Sheridan and Lawrence. The
Mutual Insurance Building (#4), was constructed in 1922 and designed by the firm of Fugard &
Knapp. At four stories and clad in white terra cotta, the prominent location on the corner made this
Classical Revival building a gleaming example of what was to come. The firm of Fugard & Knapp
was already well-versed in classical building design, having designed 219 East Lake Shore Drive in
1919 and 229 East Lake Shore Drive in 1922 in what is now the East Lake Shore Drive Local
Historic District. The firm would eventually complete the Mayfair Regent Hotel, 181 East Lake
Shore Drive, in 1924, making them the designers of half the buildings in that historic district
(Sinkevitch, 1993: 111).
Marshall & Fox were probably the best known and most respected of the commercial and
residential architecture firms to work in Uptown Square during the 1920s. Both of the firm's
Uptown Square buildings are massive brick buildings with elaborate Classical Revival white terra
cotta facades, continuing in the theme of exuberantly designed high-style architecture. These are the
McJunkin Building (#36), built in 1923, and the original eight stories of the Uptown National Bank
Building (#19), built in 1924. In 1928 the firm of Huszagh & Hill completed the anticipated four-
story addition to the Uptown Bank Building.
Comprised of partners Benjamin H. Marshall (1874-1945) and Charles E. Fox (1870-1926).
this leading architectural firm had gained a reputation for elegant and elaborate designs, most of
which were built in the Gold Coast section of Chicago. Marshall went on to design several
important buildings following Fox's death in 1926, including the Drake Tower Apartments, 179 East
1 -akc Shore Drive, 1 929, and the Edgewater Beach Apartments (Withey and Withey, 1 956: 392-393).
The firm's impressive list of designs include the Blackstone Hotel and Theater at 636 South
Michigan, 1908-1910; the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad headquarters at 547 West
Jackson, 1911; the Drake Hotel at 140 East Walton Street, 1920; 1550 North State Parkway, 1912:
and the other half of the Last Lake Shore Drive Local Historic District (Sinkevitch, 1993: 94. Ill,
141. 165).
The fourth architect to continue the theme of ornately designed high-stvle buildings in the
Uptown Square Historic District was Walter W. Ahlschlager. Already well-known in Uptown for
his design of the Sheridan Plaza Hotel at the northeast corner of Wilson and Sheridan in 1919,
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Ahlschlagcr incorporated monumental engaged columns and fluted piers, spiral terra cotta columns,
terra cotta floral patterns, ram's heads, urns, metal cresting and diamond leaded glass into the
Spanish Baroque design of the Uptown Broadway Building (1120). He is also credited with designing
the Medinah Athletic Club, now the Hotel Inter-Continental, 505 North Michigan Avenue, 1929, in
a neo-Egyptian style (Sinkevitch, 1993: 103).
The range of architectural styles employed in the Uptown Square Historic District reflects
the range of early 20"' century development from 1900 to 1950. Of the 52 buildings in the district,
17 were designed in the Commercial Style and 18 were designed in the Classical Revival style.
These two styles alone represent half of the buildings in the district. Of the remaining buildings,
eight are considered of contemporary design, or rather they are modern buildings or facades which
portray no particular style. The following chart indicates the architectural styles of the 44
contributing buildings in the district:
Architectural Style
No. of
Buildings
Architectural Style
No. of
Buildings
Commercial Style
17
Chicago Six-Flat
1
Classical Revival
18
Spanish-Moorish
1
Art Deco
4
Venetian Gothic
1
Spanish Baroque
2
Classicism usually refers to a revival of the principles of ancient Greek and Roman
architecture. In the 19 ,h century there was a full-scale classical revival that look many different forms
but which kept a common feeling of identity and direction (Koeper and Whiffen, 1983: 3). The
classical revival was first introduced in America during the 18' century by Thomas Jefferson with
his State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia. The style reflected a symbol of the new government in the
New World, which was patterned on the Roman Republic (Koeper and Whiffen, 1983: 5). The
classical style of architecture came to be associated with civic, industrial and financial institutions,
relaying a sense of longevity, importance and justice. While the 19"' century buildings were often
freestanding, replicating form and style of the ancient architecture, buildings in the 2()"' century
modified the style to the form and function of the building. As the classical revival became an
accepted torm of building design, even (lie smallest facade would incorporate classical detailing to
add identity and status to the building The range of classical facades is varied in the district, from
the modified temple front of the Peoples Church (ill) to the ornate terra cotta-clad Uptown National
Bank Budding (//I 9). Classical Revival nourished throughout the United States in the early 20"'
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Uptown Square Historic District
century.
While the Classical Revival style is the most dominant of the high styles found in the district
the Commercial Style ranks as the most common building style. The Commercial Style is the result
of increased specialization in building facades towards the creation of commercial storefronts along
a street. More a building type than a style, Commercial Style buildings include one or more
storefronts, upper floors containing offices or apartments, topped by a parapet or cornice Examples
include the three buildings from 4635 to 4645 North Broadway (#25, #26, #27). These buildings
often incorporated details from other styles as ornamentation. In the Uptown Square Historic
District, classical detailing is the most prominent, as is found on buildings such as the 1105
Lawrence Professional Building (#8).
The Art Deco style became popular and took its name from the Paris Exposition
Internationale des Arts Dccoratifs et Industriels Moderncs in 1925 (Koepcr and Whiffen, 1983: 326)
1 he style spread rapidly to America and can be found in every city arid many small towns around the
country. Although a more streamlined version of Art Deco known as Moderne was a popular
replacement after 1930, the Art Deco style remained popular into the 1940s. There arc four
buildings in the Uptown Square Historic District in the Art Deco style. The New Lawrence Hotel
(#9) is an excellent example of the use of Art Deco in the 1920s. Constructed in 1928, the building
incorporates elements common in the Art Deco style, including a linear design with a vertical
emphasis, a courtyard or "U" shape above the first floor emphasizing the geometric form, strips of
windows with decorated spandrels, low-relief ornamentation around door and window openings, and
the use of metal and terra cotta in the ornamental detailing (Blumcnson, 1981: 77).
The increase of building mass and scale in the 1920s communicated Uptown Square's status
as a major outlying business center in Chicago. TTie larger commercial buildings and entertainment
facilities expressed the exuberance of a vibrant entertainment district with elaborate decorative
lacades and the creative use of terra cotta.
Neillhborhood Comparison
In his 1937 thesis, Malcolm Proudfoot identified twenty major outlying business centers in
the Chicago of the early 1 930s. He did not publish the boundaries of these centers but explained in
detail how they were delineated. "Major" meant at least one mile of business frontage, combinuii'
the frontage of all stories Lor example, two-story business buildings extending on bjlh sides of the
street m four directions for a radius of one-sixteenth mile would measure a mile in Proudfoofs
analysis (Proudfoot, 1937).
Broadway-Wilson was one of his major centers, and it ranked third from the lop with 3.20
miles of business frontage. There arc five centers with over three miles: Ilalsted-Roosevelt 4.03,
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Uptown Square Historic District
63rd-Coltage Grove 3.38, Broadway-Wilson 3.20, 63rd-Halsted 3.12, and Lincoln-Belmont-Ashland
3.10. Proudfoot included Lawrence-Slieridan and Broadway-Sheridan (-Montrose) as minor centers,
which reflects the unusual extent of the Uptown concentration; only one other major center, 47th-
South Park, had a minor center within a half mile, and no other had two. Although Proudfoot's
boundaries for the Broadway- Wilson center would not exactly match with the Uptown Square
Historic District boundaries, they contained most of the same major buildings and can be used for
comparisons. Proudfoot found that of his twenty major centers, Broadway-Wilson ranked third in
size, first in elevated car traffic, first in "motor coach traffic," (i.e., first-class busses), above average
in land value, and above average in vehicle traffic.
Historic land values in Chicago were thoroughly documented by Homer Hoyt in his 1933
book, One Hundred Years of Land Values in Chicago, 1830-1933. His analysis includes a section
on outlying business centers. Land prices on outlying business corners doubled between 1910 and
1915, then after a pause, tripled between 1921 and 1928. "Not only did an increase of population
ol one million [in these areas] furnish added consumer purchasing for local stores, but a number of
factors tended to divert much of this shopping away from the Loop to these community centers"
(Hoyt 1933: 249). These factors included the growth of outlying banks, department stores, and "the
new palatial motion-picture houses." Uptown Square had a large twelve-story bank, a prominent
department store, and two palatial motion-picture houses.
The attached Chicago map taken from Hoyt (1933: 254, Figure 40) shows that in 1928 three
Uptown corners — Broadway-Lawrence, Broadway-Wilson, and Wilson-Sheridan— were all in the
highest rank ($5,000-10,000 per front foot) and Lawrence-Sheridan was in the second rank ($2,500-
4,999) citywide. Of the eleven centers with property values exceeding $5,000 per front foot in 1928,
three were in Uptown. Nowhere else outside the central city were two first-rank centers found less
than a half-mile apart.
In the 1930s all the major centers had at least one large motion-picture theater; some had
several. The concentration of entertainment facilities in Uptown rivaled that of the other outlying
centers and included the Aragon Ballroom (#13). Uptown Theatre (#44), Riviera Theater (#51).
Lakeside Theater (#1). Green Mill Gardens (#42), and the Pantheon Theater. All remain but the
Pantheon, which stood outside the historic district boundaries. Of the five largest outlying centers
in Proudfoot's study, all had at least one theater with more than 3000 seats, but most of these have
not survived
A driving lour of 15 or 20 major outlying business centers shows that almost all of them haw-
lost many of their largest and most characteristic business buildings. Madison-Pulaski (formerly
Crawford) retains the live-story Walgreens building, the eight-story Garfield Bank building and two
large residential buildings, the Guyon Hotel and the Midwest Athletic Club. The Madison-Pulaski
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Uptown Square Historic District
district had two major motion picture theaters, the Marbro and the Paradise, but botli have been
demolished. The Lincoln-Bclmont-Ashland district retains the Wieboldt's Department Store
building and another narrow six-story department store. The Belmont Theater was adapted for
residential use, retaining the historic facade. The other major centers have suffered extensive
demolition. The Tivoli near 63 ,d -Cottage Grove and the Southtown near 63' d -Halsted are among the
losses to demolition.
Uptown Square Historic District is unique in retaining all the major buildings within its
boundaries. The two major motion picture theaters, the Uptown and the Riviera, are still standing
in the Uptown Square Historic District, with good physical integrity on the exterior. The Uptown
Square Historic District also retains the Aragon Ballroom, the Green Mill, the McJunkin, Mutual
Insurance, and Uptown National Bank Buildings, all of which contributed significantly to the
original character of the district. Thus the Uptown Square Historic District with all its major
buildings standing is among the best surviving examples of the outlying business centers of early 20"'
century Chicago.
Walking through the district, changes and gaps in the historic fabric are visible. But it would
be an illusion to believe that at one time the district was fully built and physically stable. The real
estate booms of 1910-1915 and 1920-1930 brought extensive demolition and redevelopment. The
district developed so rapidly that in the early 1920s, buildings less than ten years old were being torn
down to build "bigger and more modem buildings on the same sites" (Chicago Daily Newx, February
18, 1922). There was always a building project under way. The tall apartment buildings on
Lawrence replaced walk-up apartments. The Uptown National Bank Building (#19) was built first
to eight stories in 1924, then pushed up to twelve stories just four years later. At the northeast comer
ot Lawrence and Broadway a twenty-five-story building was announced, but the project never broke
ground (Northside Sunday Citizen, January 16, 1927). Though there have been some regrettable
losses to demolition in Uptown Square, what remains is an ensemble of exceptional interest with
substantial integrity by any comparative standard.
I-rom the early 1900s with its transportation boom, through the glory days in the 1920s and
early 1930s, to harder times during the Great Depression. World War II and the post-war years.
Uptown Square has stood largely intact, too monumental to ignore and, some thought, too expensive
to restore. Its most impressive structures, including the Uptown Theatre, the Aragon. and the
Uptown Bank Building, are a testimonial to another era. Its vacant and deteriorated buildings,
including Loren Miller's store and the rest of the Goldblalt's complex ( (739-4 1 ). the majestic I iplown
Theatre («44), the Spiegel Furniture Store building (#47), and the lavishly decorated Uptown-
Broadway Building (//20) wail to once again become a developer's dream.
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Uptown Square Historic District
Uptown Square is no museum however. Bright lights and entertainment still draw the crowds
to Uptown Square. Jazz fans flock to the Green Mill. The Aragon and the Rivera fill with fans of
popular music groups, today the Smashing Pumpkins rather than Tommy Dorsey. The Uptown
Theatre often serves as a popular movie filming location. Backdrafl, Toy Stop,', and recently High
Fidelity included scenes shot in the Uptown. The busy and thriving Uptown National Bank graces
the corner of Lawrence and Broadway. In the early twentieth century, transportation access, a
booming economy, rapid residential and commercial development, entertainment venues, and
recreation shaped Uptown Square. Those elements still exist today and offer renewed opportunities
for restoring some of Uptown Square's magnificent buildings.
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^__ Uptown Square Historic District
Bibliography
Chicago Daily News
February 18, 1923
May 19, 1923
February 16, 1927
Northsidc Sunday Citizen
January 3, 1930
January 1 6, 1 927
Uptown Mews
February 6, 1931
"Balaban and Katz Magazine, Special Uptown Theatre Issue, August 17, 1925," Marquee The
Journal of the Theatre Historical Society. Notre Dame, IN: Theatre Historical Society.
Blumenson. John J.G. Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and
Terms, 1600-1945. New York: WAV. Norton & Company, 1981.
Chandler, Daniel Ross. The Official Authorized Biography of the 'Reverend Dr. Preston Bradley
Jericho, NY: Imposition Press, 1971.
Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Preliminary Staff Summary Information: Essanay Studios
1333-1345 W.Argyle Street. Chicago, City of Chicago, 1989.
Local Community Fact Book - Chicago Metropolitan Area, ) 990, Chicago Board of Trustees of
the University of Illinois, 1995.
Cohen, Lizbcth. Making a New Deal: Industrial Workers in Chicago, 1919-1939. New York-
Cambridge University Press, ! 990.
Davis, Naomi and Neil Mitchell. First in Film: The Chicago Legacy. Chicago- Uptown
Historical Society, 1997.
DuciBella, Joseph R. Theatres of Chicago (preliminary edition). Notre Dame. IN' Theatre
Historical Society, 1973.
Garfield, Graham. Chicago "L ".org, www. nort hstarnet.org /graham 1997-1999.
Gartner, Christine, Ramune Kazcnas and Biruta Petersons. More Than Stone: A Nostalgic View
of Uptown Architecture. Chicago: Uptown Hull House Gallery. 1975.
Hoyt, Homer. One Hundred Years of Land Values in Chicago, 1830-1911 Chicawv University
ol Chicago Press. 1933.
Jakus. Chetand Jacki Lyden. Landmarks and Legends of Uptown Chicago 1980
Longstreth, Richard, and Steven Levin. Adolf K. Placzek, editor. Macllillan Encyclopedia of
Architects. Vol 3. New York: T'he Free Press, 1982.
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 9 Page 44
Uptown Square Historic District
Longstreth, Richard. The Buildings of Main Street: A Guide to American Commercial
Architecture. Washington, D.C.: The Preservation Press, 1987.
Marciniak, Ed. Reversing Urban Decline. Chicago: National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs
1981.
Mayer, Harold M. and Richard G. Wade. Chicago: Growth of a Metropolis. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 1969.
Moffat, Bruce. The "L": The Development of Chicago's Rapid Transit System 1888-1932.
Bulletin 131 of the Central Electric Railfans' Association (CERA), 1995.
Pacyga, Dominic and Ellen Skerrett. Chicago, City of Neighborhoods: Histories and Tours.
Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1986.
Palmer, Vivien. "History of Uptown." Chicago Historical Society. 1928.
Placzek, Adolf K., editor. MacMillan Encyclopedia of Architects, Vol. 3. New York: The Free
Press, 1982.
Pomaranc, Joan. "Uptown Theatre." Chicago Commission on Landmarks, February 1989.
Proudfoot, Malcolm J. "The Major Outlying Business Centers of Chicago." Dissertation,
University of Chicago. March 1936.
Reynolds, Donald Martin. The Cambridge Introduction to Art: Nineteenth-Century Architecture.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
Sinkevitch, Alice, editor. AIA Guide to Chicago. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1993.
Whiffen, Marcus, and Frederick Kocper. American Architecture, Volume 2: 1860-1976.
Cambridge, MA: Hie MIT Press, 1983.
Withcy, Henry F., AIA, and Elsie Rathburn Withey. Biographical Dictionary of American
Architects (Deceased). Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1956.
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018
(8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
CONTINUATION SHEET
Section 10 Page 45
. Uptown Square Historic District
Boundary Description
The Uptown Square Historic District's boundaries include the northwest corner of Gunnison
and Broadway, the east and west sides of Broadway from Gunnison on the north to Wilson on the
south, the southwest corner of Wilson and Broadway, the one building on the north side of Wilson
east of Broadway, the north side of Leland between Broadway and Winthrop, the north and south
sides of Lawrence from Magnolia to Sheridan, the first building on the west side of Sheridan south
of Lawrence, the two buildings east of Sheridan on the south side of Lawrence, and the three
buildings on the west side of Racine south of Lawrence. The boundaries incorporate approximately
15 blocks.
Boundary Justification
The boundaries of the Uptown Square Historic District have been drawn to include the most
cohesive collection of buildings which relate together through use, architectural style, pattern of
development, and date of construction. To the north along Broadway are low-scale commercial
buildings that do not reflect their historic integrity including a modern public library and a strip
shopping center constructed in the mid-1990s.
To the west along tire north side of Lawrence are a parking lot and the St. Boniface
Cemetery. To the west of the district and south of Lawrence arc low-scale residential buildings
dating from the late 19"' and early 20' 1 ' centuries. These buildings are within the boundaries of the
Sheridan Park Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1985. To the south along Racine
are the Darlington Hotel, 1910, and the Darlington Apartments, 1909, two low-rise apartment
buildings. To the west along Leland are St. Simons Church and Parish House dating from 1905, and
the Leland Hotel, a larger apartment building constructed in 1926. All of these buildings are located
within the boundaries of the Sheridan Park Historic District.
To the west along the north side of Wilson are several low-rise commercial buildings and a
four-story apartment building, which do not possess sufficient historic integrity to reflect the period
of significance. There is a modem fire station at the northwest corner of Racine and Wilson. Along
the south side of Wilson is the Harry S. Truman City College of Chicago, a modern glass and steel
two-story building which consists of an entire city block.
To the south of the southern boundary of the district along the west side of Broadway is a
parking lot and a modern supermarket building. To the south along the east side of Broadway are
several modern commercial buildings, including a strip shopping center and a bank.
To the east of the boundary along the north and south sides of Wilson are several parking
lots, a modern commercial building, and a McDonald's restaurant, followed by the Sheridan Plaza
Hotel, listed on the National Register individually, at the northeast comer of Wilson and Sheridan.
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Uptown Square Historic District
The historic fabric of the district no longer extends far enough along Wilson to include the Sheridan
Plaza Motel. To the west along Leland are two vacant lots and a modem apartment building.
To the north and south of Lawrence along Winthrop and Kenmore are low-rise apartment
buildings and single-family homes dating from the late l * and early 20"' centuries. 'These buildings
are interspersed with vacant lots.
To the west along the north side of Lawrence arc a modern strip shopping center at the
northwest corner of LawTence and Sheridan, and a modern high-rise apartment building and parking
lot cast of Sheridan. To the east of the boundary along the south side of Lawrence are several low-
rise apartment buildings, some of which are modern and some which date from the early 20 th
century. To the south of the boundary along the east and west sides of Sheridan is a mixture of two-
story commercial buildings dating from the early 20" century, modem commercial buildings, parking
lots and vacant lots.
Green Mill Sunken Gardens
Announcement of Opening Tonight — Friday — 6p.m.
o Block. Nonh „l O I II A Tw„ ni„,l,. \V,„,
i.o„A,. l s.. Broadway and Lawrence Ave. 5 h„ rf „„K». d
Co
me Tonight ^jH~j
"Green Mill" Gardens
The coolest spot in Chi-
cago — t lie only real
Sunken Gardens in Am-
erica — the most novel
summer garden where
every night is a gala
night. Come where you
can spend Your evening
in comfort and pleasure-
in J delightful spot en-
circled bv a terrace of
..flowers and climbing
vines. Dim- rn our
Delia Robbia Room
designed with rare skill and carried
out in the costliest, tbouob not
gaudy, marbles and tile Att-jc-
tivc and rich — a place where you
will enjoy the finest cuisine pre-
pared by expert chefs The
cleverest entei tamers
The Queen nfthe Cabarc!
MISS PATRICOLA
with her orchestra of 25
;i:c(c l : mid ir,;jiy older 'Orjp:
.a;r:u! ions, i- pi! ( iiillvt ntiuid fcr
:or,i(p,!' s ,,,„ ranj;, will niinrrri
you .15 yo\> ioivr 11000 bcrn ro
: najsc mora m ( oik iv'o ' ooo- fo
"Gto-. Mill" (O.irdorp, '...,;. do
Come Tonight Look for the Sign of "The Green Mill"
Take Broadway Car to Door or Northwestern it" to Wilson Avenue, Z'Jt. Ill
i Square I lisle
Fo
thcr
of
Uptown
.^ ^
CORNERMHI
: While h
.-Bluf-«f-
THftOOPVffli
ValueSheridanTrustUaQlc
=^at=$7,-S00=Pr6nt-Foot^T
Thcro are more 'valuable coma.
iji tlio nrw tr<jm Lnv.'r_£nce to Iprltl
ml 'the lake to Ashland than -a."
-district onlMdo the loop; with jf
--fK>--flHc-^-rr^nt1pri^of-5Tlcri1paiittr(
Tlio~~TJri<"ke h-jtc.l to Uie. bridge, o
poiiul-iTion "" st.'(t!-ttir;i ""Tri"dlca~le U
progeny value will Increase -Ih .1
touji. Wnknr II. Kuehnle. 'supei
teiulent of the land department":
titer l»Oard""o[ .i.'useMoriir.' "said -j"
l. c^Uj.natofc-m>«---* r y
:Mc--rtwrtrtnrr : TTiIStr3S
imi -'- u -i U ;
estimated at '4'fv
The 1928 valu©\"
irnei' wan SG5.
r of business fir
c-Kht^ycars from"
: here was an inc
apartment hotels
I Iplovvn Square I lislonc I )isln
bulldlnp bind
"• foot
the Uplovcn o
Tho numbe
doubled In the
to 1??S. and !
of a third in
14 "i00 Kami lies Ily 1946-.
Figures jiist proctirea. rro ra^
telephone ronVpaivy"~b\- iTr. -JCueh
show that the district had 9.600^
ille.n !n IT-CO and ll-,000;ln L 1928~.
they predict '.horn rviUbo 14.500";
11146. . .....I.
There" v.- err. 1.000 business ''rflr:
In 1920. 2.000 in 1528, and they;
die: 3.000 by 1046.
Siiero were 1.400 families In a'pa,
nient hotels In "I? 20," 1,900 -In '• ^
and thcr predict 2,700 by 1946. ;>;
Five Key Cornenr '->l?i
Thfi northwest c.oracr of. '33TierI5
and. Wflson and tho . north'westjj
ner of Broadway ' Vn.d : lX<ttWr«.--
were valuexl_at_?6,53_0^1tfenti^
by .asse-ssors In ISTS,- .tho,liioot^
uablo-- business- centers^o^trrt: ^
central busineM d let ri c tvipVlth^
exception of HBlsted i '(Uld^68ttt&;
ued at J 8.000. : Fifty-thtr^W<3^
ta^ft arid ModLsor^ah^Cri^"*™
i at- ig.soo!-?. :--- T yi-?^i^'&
■.Tho.' BOuthir^t%c&riii
itence and Shertdah.^^r
B roaflway..- and "^VJlsjft^
^vMiLdliftjrtVfiriHV '
tion 'drawing: frorn^il^iOT^,
.nrld'-.63rd : .'hiui-hot<;a«|TO t aK5*
trom : -^-hic1V^to1^raT/y ; tra^«-
"•*;;' ifr^/ KUc1inlftr8^s^pr7,C^
of tbV .blREMt business 'ru|.Q£~,-.
city.- :"-Hc ;ln " Vr«-prtttid«nt**Og
Transportation Chart
Northwestern Railway (now Chicago &
Northwestern)
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Chicago North Shore Street Railway
Company
Chicago North Shore Street Railway
Company
Chicago North Shore Street Railway
Company
Rail
Rail
ROUTE
North-South 12 trains per day
North-South to Union Depot downtown
North-South
Evanston Avenue (Broadway) to Diversey
Northwestern Elevated Railroad
Company
Northwestern Elevated Railroad
Company
Northwestern Elevated Railroad
Company
Kenwood-Wilson Expres
Lake Bluff Railway (later Chicago,
North Shore & Milwaukee line)
Northwestern Elevated Railroad
Company
Chicago, Evanston & Lake Shore
Chicago Transit Authority (forerunner)
Lake Shore Dri
Elevated Rail
Elevated Rail
(street level)
Elevated Rail
(street level)
Elevated Rail
Elevated Rail
Highway
North-South
Clark Street line extended to Devon Ave.
East- West
Lawrence Avenue line began from
Evanston Avenue to Milwaukee Avenue
North-South
Line extended north to Wiison Avenue
North-South
Elevated tracks electrified
North-South
Line extended to Central Street in
Evanston
North-South
Line ran from Wilson to Kenwood on the
south side. Service closed in 1949.
North-South
Line ran from Milwaukee, Wl to South
Side, stopping at Wilson.
North-South
Tracks north of Wilson were elevated
North-South
Closed service between Howard and
Wilson
Existing Uptown Station at Wilson and
Lawrence Avenue station constructed
North-South
Koad extended north to Lawrence Avenue
with exits at Montrose, Wilson and
Lawrence
Uptown Square Historic District
MAP OF CHICAGO
-showing-
LAND VALUES OF THE PRINCIPAL
BUSINESS CORNERS OUTSIDE THE LOOP
1928
Uptown Square Historic
District
VALUES PER FRONT FOOT
•$ 200 -$ 499
• 500 - 999
• 1.000- 2.499
• 2.500 - 4.999
$ 5,000 - 10.000
HOMER HOY
: * . . , .. .: Jl *r\
♦ ♦-♦•■-♦-♦-»• - : ©« ■■--
Fig. 40
Uptown Square Historic District
i ULLL
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11